Dropping the Sails

Taking it while it's going has proved a great mantra. On our return trip from delivering our anchor and chain to be galvanized, we spotted a sail loft right opposite the marina. A chance too convenient to miss. We were only 2 days into a 1 week marina booking and it was right on the doorstep. Just a wheelbarrow ride in fact.


Calm conditions at dawn the next morning and The Bloke was on to it. No time for tea and toast. The loft opened at 07:00 and it looked likely we'd arrive with our sails soon after.

 

We already knew that the main needed the UV fabric to be replaced at the clew and quite likely along the leach. The bolt rope seems to have slipped up its sleeve near the tack too and could be responsible for the furler problems we'd experienced in recent months. When he'd examined the sails the sailmaker commented that bolt ropes were prone to shrinking. Well ours has had 9 years to shrink so maybe, maybe?

  

Evidence of the torn UV on the mainsail

The end of the bolt rope sleeve was empty (crumpled left side) and not plump and round like it should be if it contained the rope (see right side of picture).

 

Our Genoa is our workhorse and delivered the biggest shock. The UV strip was not covering the luff-side of the head, around the top of the bolt rope, and had begun to tear! Golly, we had possibly been only a wind gust away from Armageddon!

Chaos in the making awaiting!

Reinforcement strip at the clew showing signs of wear

As the pictures show, the sails came down and not a moment too soon. It's hard to think they would have survived until Mooloolaba where we had previously planned to drop them and leave with a sail loft over Christmas. Our choosing to drop our sails is a world of difference to the elements doing it for us - a concept we don't even want to contemplate!